A guest blogger responds

Dear friends and readers,
I have never had a guest writer here, but I have offered my dear S.O. the opportunity to write a post to address some issues that have come up. And so, without further ado, my sweetie, The Blue Baron:

To "The Oral Report" and "Miserable Annals of the Earth" writers,

I quit reading your blog posts because I chose not to bore myself with your opinionated drivel. The sweet sensible writer of this blog is not fanning any flames of discontent. The author of this blog is well educated, level headed, successful and sociable. She writes better than either of you two. To the writer of TOR, from what I've heard about what you continue to post it sounds like you can't give up sanctifying yourself. You can't move on, get the chip off your shoulder. You never say you're wrong about anything yet you are, a lot. Every bit of feeling in my heart about you is direct from me with no help from others. To the writer of MAOTE, you just have nothing worth reading. You have in the past, leveled your consternation at the woman I love, and at me. For this you won't be regarded.

The Coffee Table author and I are more than just a current thing despite what the author of TOR would think. Again TOR writer, more of your "I'm right" assertions gone wrong.

Thank you HoosierGirl for letting me get my two cents in...The Blue Baron

Yellow frogs.

Greed
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For other uses, see Greed (disambiguation).




Greed is often associated with death and disease.Greed is a selfish desire to obtain money, wealth, material possessions or any other entity than one legitimately needs. Greed is listed as one of the Catholic seven deadly sins, usually by the synonym of avarice.

Desire to increase one's wealth has become more acceptable (and the word, "greed", used less frequently) in Western culture, where the desire to acquire wealth has been understood as indispensable for economic prosperity. Most believe that there are varying degrees to the pursuit of material wealth, some lesser degrees might not be considered to be "greed".

When greed entails the covetousness of another person's attributes, the term envy is used. When greed is applied to the subject of the excessive consumption of food or drink the term gluttony is often used, another of the Catholic seven deadly sins. Greed is sometimes represented by the color yellow and the frog.

Buddhists believe greed is based on incorrectly connecting material wealth with happiness. This is caused by a deluded view that exaggerates the positive aspects of an object.

I think this definition speaks for itself. I guess if you're a yellow frog, you know it.

Life is Good.

I love this company, the "Life is Good" company. I wore my "Life is good" t-shirt to school today, the one with the cup of coffee on it.




I love their motto: "Do what you like. Like what you do."







Okay, the truth is....things are not so good, especially for my significant other, Baron. I can't really explain, but he is stressed, and understandably so. When someone you love is hurting, you wish you could "fix" it, but I can't fix this. But he has my total support, and any assistance he might ask for.


This picture is for my sweetie.








My oldest son has said some hurtful things to me tonight, and so I am smarting. My heart is stinging. I know I was just as selfish and awful at his age, but still...I give my all for my kids, and quite often allow them to do things that a more practical-minded person would say we couldn't afford. It hurts when he is mean, which doesn't happen very often.

One of my students is bi-polar and today we found out that she has been off her medicine since the summer. We discovered this because she had an anger episode unlike any she has had before, and in the course of bringing her under control, she hit me. I know she didn't mean to, but the principal saw it, so now she is suspended for 2 days. I feel bad for her. I know her mom will not be kind to her, and I know she thinks I am responsible for her suspension. I hugged her before she left, but she looked so sad. I look forward to her return on Friday.

The money is still drying up. 'Nuff said.

Let's all hope for a happier and drier weekend.

I'm going to get this one for Halloween:

Crayons and Hershey kisses.....

I promised myself I would try to write every day, and so I am. But I'm not really in the mood. I'm grumpy, and I strongly suspect a visit to "the red tent" is imminent. But nonetheless, here I am.

I had planned to have a couple of inspiring pictures - a neat one of a quilt using all the crayola crayon colors, and a fun one of Hershey's kisses. But for some reason Blogger won't let me upload pictures tonight. (sigh) Kind of goes with the rest of the day.

Some thoughts:

Today was "picture day" at school. I remembered to wear my favorite green sweater, the one that looks so good with my hair and my eyes. I'll probably still have a geeky picture. Little known fact: the school picture curse lasts into adulthood.

My son is in the bathtub, "making it rain" and singing "Jingle Bells". Go figure.

My dad fussed at me because he, of his own free will, took Aaron to buy soccer cleats and "they were expensive!". (another sigh)

My middle son is circling me, fussing about a missing piece of paper. I am ignoring him.

He is also yelling at his older brother. (3rd sigh)

There is no way I'm going to have enough money to make it until next Wednesday. Next week is going to be interesting.

I had a weird dream last night about doing something bad and being in trouble with the law and going to jail. (Disclaimer: none of those things have ever really happened to me.) I was so relieved when I woke up, it was so real.

One of my co-teachers was bugging the shit out of me at faculty meeting today. I truly loathe faculty meetings.

My daughter started voice lessons tonight. Her voice teacher (also Joseph's voice teacher) says she's very talented. I knew that.

Now my middle son is grumbling, loud enough for all of us to hear, that he has "no privacy around here!" Join the club.

Ex-spouses, of all genders, are truly a source of irritation. I enjoy being one to my ex-husband. Kind of payback for him being a complete and total idiot.

I think I'll take my kids and go live in a cave. Or Switzerland.


Okay, I'm done now. Is it Friday yet?

For all our teens -

For all our children, particularly our teenagers in this stressful world:


A Prayer for Young People






O God, we pray and beseech you
to guide and protect young people
from the dangers that are ever present in our world today.
Be with them, as they experience both sickness and health,
sorrow and joy,
loneliness and friendship,
success and failure.
Gracious God,
give to them the courage and strength
to make the right decisions
as they journey through life.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit,
may they come to know and experience your loving care.
We make this prayer through Christ Our Lord. Amen.


When there is nothing I can do, and nothing I can say, at least I can pray.
J.

Silly Quiz Sunday

I know I am totally hopeless! I am not (usually) a political or religious blogger. I love those silly memes or the "40 Question" Quizzes that I sometimes find over at Redneck Nerdboy's. And I love all those silly "What kind of ____?" quizzes you can find on Blogthings.


The first one is "Are You Realistic or Romantic?" This one is a no-brainer for me, really, but I did have to answer a couple of questions realistically. I mean, I HAVE been divorced twice. I think I learned a little bit about the realities of life and love. My boyfriend would probably disagree, and say I'm 100% romantic! I DID ask for a mushy, handwritten Christmas card for Christmas....

You Are A Realistic Romantic

It's easy for you to get swept away by romance... But you've done a pretty good job keeping perspective. You're still taken in by love poems and sunsets You just don't fall for every dreamy pick up line!

Are You Romantic or Realistic?

The next one is "What Season Are You?" I thought maybe I would be a spring or a fall, and I was right. I'm a fall.

You Belong in Fall

Intelligent, introspective, and quite expressive at times... You appreciate the changes in color, climate, and mood that fall brings Whether you're carving wacky pumpkins or taking long drives, autumn is a favorite time of year for you

What Season Are You?

Next up, "What Kind of Blogger Are You?" I think this one accurately describes me.

You Are a Life Blogger!

Your blog is the story of your life - a living diary. If it happens, you blog it. And make it as entertaining as possible.

What Kind of Blogger Are You?

Next, "What Color Orange Are You?". The bummer of this one is, I hate that shade. I always thought of myself as more of a bittersweet orange, or a pumpkin orange. (sigh) Oh well.

You Are Cameo

You are understanding and very empathetic. You don't tend to have acquaintances. Everyone is your friend. And all of your friends tend to be friends. You have a knack for bringing very different people together.

What Color Orange Are You?

Finally, one that my teenagers got a big laugh out of, although I was disappointed in the result for me, "What Rejected Crayon Color Are You?". Other colors that have popped up are, "Tin Man's Johnson Gray", "McDonald Hamburger Gray", and "Klan White."

You are

What Rejected Crayon Are You?

Let me know if you try any of them, and what the results were. Drop by next Sunday for more....."Silly Quiz Sunday"!

Rain, random thoughts, and more rain!

Rain, Rain, Go Away....Come Again Some Other Day....

or, DON'T COME BACK AT ALL!
WE'RE TIRED OF BEING WET!






I am headed out to Home Depot to buy some lumber and nails so I can start building the frickin' ARK!
Yes, that's right, folks. The beautiful fall weather that Baron and I enjoyed last weekend has been replaced by gallons and gallons of water. It started raining sometime early Friday morning, and I don't think it has stopped. Last night it began lightening-ing as if God were flickering the lights in the sky.



Then it dumped on Southern Indiana and Louisville to such proportions that they even called off.....(collective gasp)...FOOTBALL GAMES. Football is sacred on Friday nights in the Ohio River Valley and second only to the God of all sports, basketball (written with great humbleness). Today it has cancelled Aaron's Cub-a-Ree Campout, Aaron's soccer game, and Rachael's outdoor get-together. My basement is very wet. It always leaks when it rains (which is why nothing is stored down there directly touching the floor), but it is definitely saturated down there. The sump pump is constantly groaning.

Last night before going to bed, Baron and I discovered a small leak through a crack in my ceiling! Help! I can't afford a new roof, or a new ceiling! It didn't do anything, in fact it stopped dripping, but it is still making me nervous.


In other random news, my new Star Wars DVD's have come in. These are the new digitally remastered editions, but they also include the original theatrical version. We were planning a Star Wars movie marathon with Baron and his girls, but at this rate, we may have to swim to get there.



Nothing much else is new. My car is still at the dealership being worked on. The "ABS" light came on, which was good timing, because it only has 300 miles until it is out of the "3 Year/36,000 mile" warranty. The ABS electronic sensor needed to be replaced, and is still under the warranty. While it's up there, it's getting the lighter fixed (wouldn't work with the cell phone charger), the trunk repaired (it was leaking), and new front brakes. This is in addition to the oil change, new battery and 2 new front tires it got a couple of weeks ago. Isn't it fun to see where your "supposed to be extra" summer stipend money is going?

But I DID get to contribute $50 per kid to their high school walkathon (they were required to collect $100 each), and get the teenagers tickets to see "Rent", coming to Louisville in October.

I found out the other day exactly what my salary is, and I was tickled. I am just $300 a year (obviously gross, not net) from breaking into a new decade of numbers, a decade which I have never experienced in my entire life, and neither has my ex-husband. I don't think I've ever shared here how much of a giggle it is for me to make more money than he does. This is mainly because all of our married life he made much more money than I did, and when we split up, he told me I would never make it on my own financially. I could go on a long rant about how wrong he was, but I will restrain myself (for now). It doesn't matter to me how much a man or a woman makes, as longer as he/she is happy with what he does, and is attempting to make this world a better place. I have never cared, really, whether the man in my life made more or less than I do.

But, I DO enjoy making more than my ex. And I always will.(evil grin)

My almost 15 year-old daughter has just stepped into the room to ask for the third time if I am "almost done with the computer", so I guess I had better wrap it up.

FINAL POLL UPDATE:
The final tally is the "Should I?" or "Shouldn't I?" poll is 6 "should", 2 "shouldn't", and 1 abstention. Thank you for your input. I'm sorry, but due to uninvited/unwelcome readers, I am unable to explain further. But I can tell you that I decided not to. Thanks again.

More camping pics....and the poll update.

Okay, from the top:
1. The Suspension Bridge (beautiful, but a little wobbly!)
2. Me, eating the promised s'mores! (they were great!)
3. Baron, down below Princess Arch.
4. One of gorgeous views from Chimney Rock.
5. Me at Lover's Leap.
6. Baron at Chimey Rock.


Our getaway was very relaxing. When I arrived Friday night, Baron had already been there several hours. He had our whole camp set up:














We made a fire and roasted marshmallows, before going to sleep under the stars. The tent had a mesh top which could be covered or left open, and we snuggled down into our bed of unzipped sleeping bags to stay warm. Very romantic.

The next day, we made bacon, french toast, and coffee for a leisurely breakfast. We then spent the day seeing the sights, tailgating for a picnic lunch, then back to our camp for beef stew and s'mores! We had some wine coolers and beer, took a flashlight walk in the dark, and slept warmly in the tent again.

Sunday we went to Chimney Rock and Princess Arch, before having a picnic lunch, packing up and heading home.



The view from Sky Bridge, our first stop on Saturday. All in all, a very restful and relaxing weekend.

UPDATE ON THE POLL:

In my last post, I asked my readers to vote: Should I? or shouldn't I? without knowing what the question was about. So far, I have received 7 votes: 4 say "should", 2 say "shouldn't", 1 abstention. If you haven't voted yet, go with your gut feeling: Should I? or shouldn't I?

Photos of my weekend getaway....and a poll.

I had a wonderful weekend, camping with Baron in Red River Gorge. The sights are beautiful, and it was so good for us to get away together, without any kids. The pictures are, from the top:
1. a shot of Natural Bridge, from Lover's Leap.
2. a shot of the top of Natural Bridge when you're standing on it.
3. the view from Natural Bridge, looking AT Lover's Leap,
4. the Skylift we rode up to Natural Bridge (there is a great trail, but by that time we had already hiked about 5 miles that day and I really wanted to try that Sky lift, even if I did get a little scared about halfway up).
5. the view from the Suspension Bridge.
6. a beautiful waterfall we stopped to look at.

There are many more beautiful pictures to show, including one of me in a hole in the side of Princess Arch, and the infamous "S'mores" shot. But I will save those for tomorrow.

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days. Blogger wouldn't let me on Friday morning, I was gone Saturday and Sunday, and since Monday my only excuse is life and love!

In other life events, I've had a small dilemma on my mind. I can't really explain, but I would like you to vote:

Should I? or Shouldn't I? You don't have to know what or why, just go with your gut feeling. If I can, I'll tell you later.

Please, Sir, may I have another?

Man! Redneck Nerdboy finds the BEST "40 questions" games, and I love doing these things....so, one...more....time.....

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops? no.

2. Do you close your eyes on roller coasters? sometimes.

3. When's the last time you've been sledding? last winter, with my kids, on the hill across from my parents' house. Cold, but fun.

4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone? someone else. Preferably the Baron.

5. Do you believe in ghosts? yes.

6. Do you consider yourself creative? yes, but not today, because I'm doing this so fast. Not very original, just honest and to-the-point today.

7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife? HELL YES!

8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie? Jennifer Aniston. Angelina is just plain weird, but she was good in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith".

9. Do you stay friends with your ex's? 1 yes, 1 no. For more info on the "no", see #'s 13 and 37.

10. Do you know how to play poker? Yes, but I prefer euchre.

11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight? Yes, when I delivered Rachael.

12. What's your favorite commercial? The original Oscar Meyer bologna one.

13. What are you allergic to? Truthfully, cats and cut grass. Humorously, stupid people, people who lie, and my first husband.

14. If you're driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around, do you run red lights? Sometimes.

15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you? Yes. But if I told you, I would have to kill you. Sorry.

16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees? The Chicago Cubs.

17. Have you ever been Ice Skating? Yes, Louisville has a great rink. But I'm not very good. I fall down a lot and my kids laugh at me. But I try!

18. How often do you remember your dreams? Some weeks all the time, very vividly. Lately, not so much.

19. When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? When I went to see "The 40 Year Old Virgin". It was hilarious.

20. Can you name 5 songs by The Beatles? Yes. But why?

21. What's the one thing on your mind now? my camping trip.

22. Do you believe in love at first sight? Not really, but I have met a few people in this life that I knew almost immediately that they would be someone important to me. And I was right, all 3 times.

23. Do you know who Ghetto-ass Barbie is? No.

24. Do you always wear your seat belt? Yes, in the Taurus, because that damn sensor dings me into submission. But I have been known to skip it in Baron's van, if he doesn't catch me.

25. what cell service do you use? Cingular.

26. Do you like Sushi? Yes! Yum!

27. Have you ever narrowly avoided a fatal accident? Yes, 2 years ago in April. I was unconcious, but not badly hurt. Only some stitches, a couple black eyes, and a very sore neck. It could have been much worse.

28. What do you wear to bed? Usually a t-shirt and undies. Unless Baron is here.....hee, hee.

29. Have you ever been caught stealing? Yes. No explanation will ever be offered.

30. what shoe size do you have? 7 1/2

31. Do you truly hate anyone? I used to. After 5 years, it's starting to fade now.

32. Classic Rock or Rap? Country.

33. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be? Harrison Ford, baby.

34. Are you a virgin? Um...I have 4 kids. Don't think so.

35. Have you ever sung in front of the mirror? Of course. Hasn't everyone?

36. What food do you find disgusting? Sorry, Baron - sardines.

37. Do you sing in the shower? Heck yeah. And I sound good in there, too.

38. Did you ever play, "I'll show you mine, if you show me yours"? Yep. See #34. That's how I got half of 'em.

39. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their backs? Nope. But I've made fun of a couple of bloggers before. (No one who comments here - e-mail me, I'll send you the links, so you can laugh, too!)

40. Have you ever been bitten by a rabid chinchilla during mating season in Amsterdam? Not yet, but it's on my "to do" list.


Tag EVERYONE...you're it!

6 Straight Days and counting.....

Fall is officially here in Southern Indiana. I actually wore my "God Rocks" sweatshirt out to soccer pictures tonight. I love sweatshirt weather. I love fall: pumpkins, leaves, hayrides, scarecrows...all that autumn-y stuff. And in keeping with the fall theme, I am going CAMPING this weekend with my S.O.! One of the best parts of camping is huddling around the campfire, eating hot dogs and s'mores. ( I have been promised s'mores!)

While my guy is a veteran camper, I have not been camping much. I was a camp counselor at a Girl Scout camp one summer when I was in college, but we slept in cabins. And we hiked to the lodge for our meals, although I DID hike a lot, learn to canoe, complete the Polar Bear Club badge (which meant jumping into the lake every morning before breakfast for a week!), and we DID cook around a fire about once a week.

But I've been out of college (gulp!) almost 20 years. Since that time, I have been camping with my kids a handful of times, but someone else was always in charge and I was just along for the ride. Which is pretty much the case this time. Baron is doing all the planning and the prep, he's getting there early and doing the setup, and he's doing all the cooking. (Did I mention he promised me s'mores?)

So, I've been to the woods before. The difference, for me, is that I've never gone camping as a couple, just me and the guy. Now, Baron is apparently a camping cassanova...he even went camping on his honeymoon, not to mention he has wooed various women into the woods since then. But this is new to me.

I am really looking forward to it. It should be a fun, interesting, and (hopefully) romantic experience. But say a little prayer for me anyway! (grin)

Sidenote: As the title of this post denotes, this makes 6 days in a row that I've put up a post. I guess I will have to break my string this weekend when I'm in the woods, but it's fun posting more often. I will keep it up when I get back.

A 40 Question Quiz from Redneck Nerdboy!

I was reading over at Tense Teacher's place, and I saw a comment from a guy who has named himself "Redneck Nerdboy". So, I HAD to check out his blog, having been married to a redneck, and lived amongst them for a time. Turns out he has four: Poor Man's Telepathy, which seems to be about poetry, "Redneck Nerdboy", "My Childhood Memories", and "What Can We Tell Ya? It's a Red-Prof thang". I haven't had a chance to read them all, and the redneck-prof one doesn't seem to have been updated lately, but the "Redneck Nerdboy" one is great! He put up this 40 question meme, and I thought it looked like fun. So, here goes:

1. Do you still have tonsils? – Yes.

2. Would you bungee jump? – Hell no. I'm too chicken to even go on The Tower of Terror at Disney World.

3. If You Could Do Anything In The World For A Living What Would It Be? – I would be a children's book author, or a journalist.

4. How many tattoos do you have? – One. See "The 8 Things You Didn't Know About Me" post below, for a detailed picture. (grin)


5. Your favorite fictional animal? – Hobbes, from "Calvin and Hobbes".




6. One person that never fails to make you laugh? – 4 of them - my kids!

7. Do you consider yourself well organized? – No, but I keep trying.



8. Any Addictions? – Diet Coke, coffee, and sex! (grin)

9. From what news source do you receive the bulk of your news? – the daily newspaper.

10. Would you rather go to a carnival or circus? – A carnival. All that good food and neat prizes.

11. When you were twelve years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? – a mom, a teacher, a nun.

12. Best Movie You've Seen This Year? Cars.

13. Favorite alcoholic drink – Strawberry daquaris.

14. What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? – Go to the bathroom, and check my e-mail.

15. Siblings? – One brother and one sister, both younger than me.

17. Have you ever gone to therapy? – Yes, and I should probably go again.

18. If you could have one super power what would it be? – Super speed, for cleaning up quick.

19. Do you own any furniture from Ikea? – No.

20. Have you ever gone camping? – Yes, and I'm going with Baron next weekend.

21. Gas prices! First thought? – Help!


22. Your favorite cartoon character? – Snoopy.

23. What was your first car? – A VW Rabbit, neon green.




24. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual? – No.

25. The Cosby Show or the Simpsons? – The Cosby Show. The Simpsons are just plain dumb.

26. Do you go to church? – Yes, almost every Sunday.

27. What famous person would you like to have dinner with? Barbara Walters. Sorry, I know it's trite, but I think she is amazing.

28. What errand/chore do you despise? – Dishes.

29. First thought when the alarm went off this morning? – What day is it?

30. Last time you puked from drinking? – College.

31. What is your heritage? – German and French.

32. Favorite flower? – Sunflowers. And roses.

33. Disney or Warner Bros? – Disney.

34. What is your best childhood memory? – Going to get ice cream in the back of the station wagon in my pajamas.

35. Your favorite potato chip? – Sour cream and onion Pringles.

36. What is your favorite candy? – Junior Mints or Heath Bar.

37. Do you burn or tan? – Tan.

38. Astrological sign? – Cancer the crab, the worldest worst sign. Depressing name, with a grouchy animal.

39. Do you own a gun? – No.

40. What do you think of hot dogs? – I like them grilled, or over a campfire.

I'm not going to tag anyone, but if you play along, let me know.

As Porky Pig says, "Th-th-th-that's all folks!"

September 11.

I didn't know anyone who was in the World Trade Center on September 11, or at the Pentagon, or in the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. I was teaching in Lousville that year, 3rd grade in a Catholic school. The 2nd and 3rd grade teachers were scheduled for an inservice at a Catholic school in a part of Louisville I was unfamiliar with. I was running late, and I was lost, so coincidentally I was still in my car, frantically looking for this place when the first report came over the radio.


I remember thinking, "What an idiot! Some pilot in a plane wasn't paying attention and hit the World Trade Center!". I didn't think much more about it, until about 45 minutes later, when people in my training session started getting cell phone calls: This one had a daughter in New York, that one had a friend on a flight to somewhere, was it the one that crashed? The poor speaker gradually lost control of anyone's attention. She called a break and about half the people just outright left.

Shortly thereafter we began to hear some of the details. The principals were meeting in an adjoining room, and they had already been dismissed to go back to their schools. We were instructed that we could either go back to our schools, or go home, since we all already had subs. I went back to my students, but it didn't have much effect. The kids didn't know what was going on. My principal, not knowing what the parents would want their kids to know and see, instructed as to go on as usual, with no TVs on. I was worried for my own kids, not knowing what else would happen that day. I called my mom from school, and she laughed at my worries, but I asked her to go pick up the kids from school. We disagreed, but finally she sent my dad to get the kids. It was silly, in hindsight, but I was scared.

Like most people, I was glued to the TV for the rest of that day, and the rest of the week. I later found out that the husband of my best friend from college had been training with Dean Wittier in New York, and had left their offices in the World Trade Center only 3 days before.

I am still touched by Alan Jackson's song, "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?". It reminds me of that day, and all the people lost.

September 11, 2001. We will never forget.

Good, good, good....Good Vibrations!

Baron and I have 7 kids between us. He has 3 girls - 17, 15, and 6. I have 3 boys and a girl - 16, 14, 12, and 6. I can't remember exactly when they all met for the first time, but it was sometime in February or March, since Baron and I started dating in January. It has been amazing how much they have in common, and how well they get along. Baron's ex has tried to cast aspersions on their relationship and our interactions, but Baron and I have seen nothing but good times. Last night was another good example.

Baron's middle girl, K., loves rock, and there was a Rockfest on the waterfront (we live near the Ohio River) yesterday. K. was supposed to go with a friend, and invited my daughter, Rachael, to go along. Unfortunately, K.'s friend backed out at the last minute, but Baron and I dropped our respective girls off at the meeting spot and they had a great time together. Both girls ran into friends from their schools and had a fun afternoon, as K.'s digital pics portrayed.

I picked them up a few hours later, and we all headed to Ernesto's for Mexican! Baron and I sat back a couple of times and smiled to see them all talking and laughing together. They have so much in commmon, and get along so well! Our 6 yr. olds are his pretty little girl, A., and my boy Aaron. They danced together to the live music and played tic-tac-toe at the table. The singer was doing mostly "old" stuff (read: 60's and 70's) and I made the teens groan by requesting "I've Got You, Babe", after K. asked her dad a trivia question about Sonny and Cher. The 6 yr. olds requested "Who Let the Dogs Out", and he did a few bars to humor them, but it wasn't really his genre. Both little kids delighted in putting a dollar in his tip jar and telling him "thank you" when we left. A. ran across the parking lot to give me a picture she made me that says, "I love you, J.!" I can't wait to put it up at school near my desk.

We then caravaned to Baron and his girls' favorite ice cream place, Barrel of Fun. And yes, the actual building is shaped like a barrel. We all loaded up on ice cream goodies and sat outside on picnic tables to eat and talk. Aaron and A. played tag in the grass, with my Daniel joining in. Aaron has a bit of a crush on Baron's middle daughter, K., and asked to sit by her. When he tripped and fell during tag, K. was one of the first to rush over to see if he was okay. My oldest, Joseph, and Baron's oldest girl, T., moved away from the others for awhile to talk about a local haunted house. Rachael, Daniel, K., Baron and I discussed our September plans for an all-day "Star Wars" marathon, as soon as my Star Wars remastered DVD's come in. Again, Baron and I sat back, holding hands, and just soaked in all the good vibrations. Our families blend well together.

The girls' mom just recently got engaged, and Baron's youngest, A., has marriage on the brain. She told me, "I can't wait until you and Daddy get married!" My response was, "Well, you'll have to talk to your dad about that one!" (laugh) There has been a lot of marriage talk, lately, but all hypothetical, although Baron DID make an interesting comment at the football game Friday night. We were talking to a couple who were on their second marriage and had blended families, and I mentioned that we (the 2 couples) had a lot in common, except, I said, "WE aren't married." Baron's reply: "Not yet." He was even smiling when he said it! Hmmmmm......

Later, A. brought it up again. When I asked her what the rush was, she said, "I want to be your stepdaughter!" I smiled at her, hugged and kissed her, and let her know that she was always going to be special to me, whether we were ever legally related or not. A. has the wonderful quality of wanting everyone to be happy.

When it was time to go home, there was hugging and silliness all around. Lots of affection from Baron. I think it is good for both sets of kids to see their parents happy. I know it makes me happy to enjoy the company of my guy AND his girls. Looking forward to more "good vibrations".

8 Things You Don't Know About Me....

Hey there...I have been tagged by Kelly, who writes "The Strongly Opinionated Life of Me", to tell you my deepest, darkest secrets....well, at least 8 semi-secrets.
Here we go:

1. I hate potato salad. It's sad, but true. A great American institution, a staple at summertime picnics, and I truly can't stand the stuff. I DO, however, do a polite imitation of someone who DOES like it, by putting a small serving on my plate, taking a nibble or two of a potato bit, and then throwing the rest away when no one is looking.

2. I have 4 children here on earth, but I also have 3 others in heaven. I had 3 miscarriages, two before my oldest, and one between #3 and #4. I imagine them all to be girls, to balance out all the boys I have in my life now.

3. Interestingly enough, two of my most favorite-est girls' names in the whole wide world are the names of my S.O.'s girls. I always used to dream of having twin girls, and naming them Amy and Kelly. How great for me that 2 wonderful girls by those names have come into my life, along with a "Tina" for good measure.

4. My second ex, Larry, is 15 years older than I am. We were romantically and physically involved for over a year after we separated and divorced. Long story. Probably a post of its own sometime.

5. I read the "At Home in Mitford" series by Jan Karon (all 8 of them) at least once a year. I find them comforting and inspirational, and if I could move to Mitford, I would.

6. I love to cross stitch, although I haven't done it in a couple of years. I would also love to learn to knit and/or crochet.

7. I absolutely LOVE early morning sex.

8. I have a tattoo on my back, just above the crack. It was a 41st birthday present. I like it, I had fun getting it, and I don't give a flying fig what it will look like when I'm 90. So kiss my sunflowers, y'all!

A Promise to all my blogging friends....

I, HoosierGirl, do hereby promise that sometime tomorrow I will visit every single one of your blogs, post witty and insightful comments, and THEN write an intelligent and non-whiny post on The Coffee Table.
So help me Bob.(if you've ever watched "Rugrats", you understand this)
Because it's late on a Friday night and I'm too damned tired to do it now.

Signed,
your blogger friend,
J.

Damn this computer!

Okay, Blogger ate my new post, and I don't have time this morning to re-do it. And unlike some people, I don't feel it's ethical to sit on the computer all day while supposedly being paid to work (maybe that's why they make so freaking little), so I won't have time until tonight to re-post it. Aarrrgh!

Until then, look at this beautiful picture of sunflowers.
Stay tuned...a brilliant and insightful post coming to THIS VERY SPOT....TONIGHT!

"It feels like the first time"...over and over again.

"It's a bird, it's a plane, it's.....SuperTeacher!"

Sorry, folks, not me. As promised on Janet's blog,"The Art of Getting By", here is my post about my most memorable first day of school. I'm sad to say, I don't specifically remember any of my own first days of school. I remember things that happened throughout my school years, but not any first day. I hope I am making things more memorable for MY students.


As a teacher, I have had many "first day"s, many of them terrifying. My first teaching job EVER was teaching 6th grade in South Bend, Indiana. I was only 10 years older than the students. I could not sleep the night before, and I spun through everything I had planned by lunchtime, I was so hyper.

A few years later, I quit to stay home with the kids. About 6 years ago, I went back and had my "first day of teaching" all over again. This time it was 3rd grade in a small Catholic school in Louisville, and I now was the mother of 4 children of my own. I really liked that school and those kids. They made it easy. That school and its staff supported me through my separation and divorce. It's closed now.

The year after I got divorced, I got remarried and moved to Hardin County, Kentucky, where I could not find a job teaching "regular" elementary school. But a young principal in Radcliff, Kentucky, desparate to fill her openings, saw that I had the credentials to teach special education and asked me to try teaching students with learning disabilities. And so another "first day" - teaching in an area where I was technically qualified but had absolutely no experience. It was an eye-opening experience. I was mentored by several teachers on staff who DID know what they were doing, and didn't mind showing me the ropes, and so I've been in special education ever since.

This year's "first day" was a little scary for me as well. I don't think you ever get completely over the "first day" butterflies, but this year was different. After 3 years as a LD resource teacher, a job I was quite comfortable in, I switched to teaching students with emotional and behavior disorders, primary age, self-contained. I started with 5 students, grades K-4, and I have a full-time aide. As I said in the beginning of this post, I don't ever think I've been "Super Teacher" but I think I have always done a good job for my students. I was so afraid I couldn't handle this. And there is too much at stake for me to fail. But the first day went well, the first week went well, and today was Day 15, and I think I'm going to like it here.

Don't get me wrong. I have been tried, discouraged, frustrated, kicked by a student, called a "fat bitch", and cried my eyes out one day after school. But I love the opportunity to individualize my instruction, to really make a difference, to see the daily improvement,to really get to know my students, to accomplish more than has been previously expected of them. I am making a difference. Or I'm losing my mind. Depends on which day you catch me. (ha, ha).

Here's to every student having a great first day and a successful year, every year.
And here's to the teachers who teach them, and learn from them.

Remember, the difference between a good day and a bad day....is your attitude.

Swerving all over the place tonight.....

I love coffee! I really do. The crazy thing is, I didn't like it at all until about 3 years ago. I was married at the time, to my second husband, Larry. Things were not going well, and I thought I might improve things by trying to like some of the things he liked. This period of my life included me trying cigarettes for the very first time in my life ( I failed miserably as a smoker, thankfully), watching ALL of the "Rambo" movies (better than I anticipated), and trying coffee. Larry drank his coffee strong and black, but I couldn't handle that. I added sweetner, and a little milk, and I was hooked! My tastes now lean more toward mocha lattes from expensive coffee shops, but I still brew a pot on Saturday and Sunday mornings, especially if my S.O. is staying over. Apparently his ex didn't share his love of coffee, and gave him all kinds of grief over spilled grounds on the counter, so nothing pleases me more than to have a cup of coffee waiting for him when he wakes up.

This weekend has been a mixed bag. Friday and Saturday were go, go, go. I mentioned in the last post that my nephew, Tyler, was baptized Saturday evening and I am his godmother. I just called my brother-in-law and pestered him to e-mail me the pictures, so I should be adding those soon.

Sunday and Monday have been very relaxing, mostly. My kids left Sunday morning for a couple of days with their dad, so Baron and I were kid-less for 2 days. We puttered around here, then headed over to the flea market for a few hours. Really fun. I got a "I Love Football" sign for Daniel, and a "Cars" car for Aaron to add to his McDonald's "Cars" cars collection. And I picked up a tube of Mary Kay mascara dirt cheap. Baron hunted through Hot Wheels galore, and saw plenty he would like to have, but he restrained himself, due to upcoming financial need. It was nice to just stroll around, looking at stuff. I saw a "Teacher Barbie" for only $14 that I really wanted, but I decided I didn't really NEED it right now. (Sigh) I have always wanted a "Teacher Barbie". Maybe next time.

















Today Baron and I slept in and spent lots of time talking and cuddling. We had some things to talk about, things like trust and love and our future. Why is it, no matter how old you are, you still feel so vulnerable and insecure in a love relationship when even minor trust issues are involved? My first husband was very unfaithful to me throughout our 14 yr.marriage, and I was completely unaware of any of it. I didn't find out about anything until we were separated. The first man I trusted my heart to, post-divorce, lied to me. So I spend a lot of time fighting the urge to be suspicious. I never want to get another one of those gut-wrenching, punch-in-the-stomach surprises again. I would rather be told the painful truth, than be lied to in the name of "I didn't want to hurt your feelings".

Trust in someone is like faith in God. You just have to believe, even in the face of evidence to the contrary. It is hard. In the face of what transpired this weekend, I feel my faith was slightly shaken but not destroyed. I get scared, as Baron and I get closer, and my feelings get stronger. I am afraid, quite honestly, of getting my heart broken, but I feel like Baron knows what I am entrusting to him, and he takes that trust very seriously. I have begged him to be honest with me in all things, and he has given me his promise and his word. That's good enough for me.

How's that for a complete switch in focus? I started out talking about coffee and "Teacher Barbie" and ended up philosophizing about trust and love. My kids are home now, the house is noisy and messy again, and I am getting ready to put the youngest to bed. Have a good week, all.

Football pics and weekend thoughts.

Hey there...
Sorry I haven't had a post in a WEEK! I have been so busy with school, kids, football practice, open houses at both the high school (for joseph and rachael), and the elementary (for daniel and aaron)....plus aaron started soccer AND tiger cubs this week! (sigh)
But now it's the weekend.
Last night my nephew was baptized and I am his godmother. My oldest son Joseph is the godfather and he did a great job, although he looked nervous during the ceremony.
Today (Sunday) and tomorrow my kids are with their dad, so Baron and I have a rare moment of free time AND no kids. We went bumming around the flea market today, which was fun, and we've been out to eat. Now we're just hanging around his house....ALONE!

Anyway, I wanted to share some pictures of Daniel's football game last weekend with you.

Here he is, on the line.



Here's another one! He's the one with his behind farthest up in the air!



In this one, he's #4, in the white box.

He's doing really well. I'm so proud of him.





I promise there will be more posts before NEXT weekend.
Have a good week.